No one can escape the charismatic, stylised moves and  intoxicating music of salsa. It  is undoubtedly  one of the sensuous, intimate and  fun-filled dance form which transforms one into the world of fantasy.

Origin of salsa is unknown, but Cubans are credited with its unique rhythm and style.  “Salsa actually originated in the streets of New York”, says Lourd Vijay, the Director of a dance studio, in  Bangalore.

Salsa has amalgamated perfectly well with the Latin and African steps. Salsaholics dance in the different styles like LA style, New York style, Cuban style or Rueda, Puerto Rican style on the beats of salsa music.
A Salsa is usually a couple dance. A typical salsa dance is performed as a spot dance, with partners not moving much from their fixed place but only exchanging or rotating places  with each another.

The students joining the salsa wave is varied. Doctors, IT professionals, home-makers, school and college students, engineers, models, high profile business men, almost everyone is rushing to join the classes. Reason may be for fitness or fun, as a stressbuster or even to network with like minded people or simply to learn the skill.

“Set up in April 1998, Lourd Vijay's Dance Studio (LVDS)  has so far trained over 16,000 students and we have approximately 200-460 students enrolling every month”, says Vijay. “Students come for classes twice a week, but when they join the students performance group, they would have to put in at least 6-8 hours of rehearsals a week”, he adds.

One needs to put in 3-6 months to become a dancer. But  the advanced level requires 12-16 months with dedicated practice.  Salsa is not vigorous as a bollywood dancing but its tempo  varies from fast to slow. The dancers have to keep pace with the timing and musicality.

Salsa dancers from India are faring really well at the international level competitions — winning the australian salsa classic, qualifying for the world salsa championships, winning the European open salsa Masters. The India international Salsa Congress also gives them a lot of exposure in India about the International Scene, and the all India Salsa Championships  act as an international platform for all to compete on.

India International Salsa Congress brings in  International and National Instructors, a number of workshops with world class instructors, International DJs. All India Salsa Championships are held with loads of Cash Prizes and Trophies.

LVDS has given performances and workshops at NY, Toronto, Vancouver, Egypt, Israel, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Colombo, and Dubai. It has been winner of the Bangalore Central Salsa Championships for two years in a row. Lourd Vijay  has  choreographed and trained artists for several Bollywood movies and Jackie Chan’s The Myth. Many famous personalities are its alumini members.

Lourd Vijay's Dance Studio / India Salsa Club is located at No 4, 1st Main Road, Chakravathy Layout, Off Palace Cross Road.